Fukushima Prefecture to Host Tokyo 2020 Baseball & Softball Matches, Showcasing the Power of Sport to Support Recovery

Pyeongchang, 17 March 2017 – The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic

Games (Tokyo 2020) is pleased to confirm that the International Olympic Committee Executive Board

today approved the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium in Fukushima Prefecture as an additional venue

for Baseball and Softball events at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Tokyo 2020, together with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), believes that the hosting

of events in Fukushima will support recovery efforts in the overall Tohoku region, which was hit in the

2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.

Matches played in the Tohoku region will be further evidence of Tokyo 2020’s commitment to bring

sporting events to the recovering areas and will demonstrate the power of sport. It was already decided

that Miyagi Prefecture, similarly affected by the 2011 disaster, will host football matches during the

competition’s preliminary rounds. In this way, the 2020 Games will serve as a spiritual and physical

symbol of Japan's recovery from a national tragedy.

Commented Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori, "By hosting Olympic baseball and softball events,

Fukushima will have a great platform to show the world the extent of its recovery in the 10 years since

the disaster. It will also be a wonderful chance for us to show our gratitude towards those who assisted

in the region’s reconstruction. And I’m sure the people of Fukushima are also looking forward very much

to seeing Olympics events hosted there."

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari said: "WBSC congratulates Tokyo 2020 President Mori and IOC

President Bach on this great step taken with Olympic baseball and softball as a vehicle to inspire hope

and highlight the regeneration in Fukushima. It is a tremendous honour and a duty we take very seriously

to be a part of something so meaningful – to serve the Olympic Movement and to use the power of sport

to shape a better world. It is in this wonderful spirit that WBSC held the U-15 Baseball World Cup last

year in Iwaki, Fukushima."

Located in the green Azuma Sports Park, the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium will be renovated for

the 2020 Games, extending its legacy for future generations of baseball and softball athletes and fans in

the region. A number of Nippon Professional Baseball games have been held at this stadium. Tokyo 2020

and WBSC will work together with the aim of staging Olympic matches featuring the Japanese national

baseball and softball teams at the venue in Fukushima. Along with the added stadium, the Yokohama

Stadium in Kanagawa prefecture remains as the primary venue to host baseball and softball competitions.

The addition of the Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium brings the number of Tokyo 2020 Games venues

to a total of 40, including 8 new permanent venues, 23 existing sites and 9 temporary venues. 39 of these

40 venues will be used for competitions of the Olympic Games, and 20 of them will be used for the

Paralympic Games. With nearly 60 per cent of the venues utilising existing facilities, Tokyo 2020 has

embraced one of the Olympic Agenda 2020’s key aims - creating a sustainable legacy for future

generations.

Notes to editors: Tokyo 2020 and FIFA are currently discussing the finalisation of venues for the Football group

stage matches. Venues for Paralympic Cycling (road) have yet to be confirmed.

For more information:

Tokyo 2020 Online Press Room, ID: media password: tokyo2020media

International Communications

Tatsuo OGURA Tristan LAVIER Junichi SATO

tatsuo.ogura@tokyo2020.jp tristan.lavier@tokyo2020.jp junichi.sato@tokyo2020.jp

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